14 March 1986

PPIMME MINISTER

MAIN EVENTS

Conservative Central Council annual meeting, Felixstowe (to".arch 15)

EC Transport Council

STATISTICS

BSC/BISPA: Usable steel production (February)

DOE: Construction - output (4th qtr)

PUBLICATIONS

FCO: Treaty Series No 18 (1986) Agreement between Governmentof the United Kingdom of Great Britain and NorthernIreland and North Atlantic Salmon ConservationOrganisation (14.00)

HOL: EEC Sub-Committee E - 7th Report milk production• (outgoers scheme) (08.30)

DTI: British Business' - includes feature on Queen ElizabethII conference centre; market report 'doing business inthe USA - consumer goods'

PAY

DEM: UKAEA; (4,700); substantial increases sought; settlementdate 1.4.86

PARLIAMENT

Commons

Business: Private Members' MotionsManagement Reorganisation in the NationalHealth Service (Mr S Norris)

Neighbourhood Watch Scheme (Mr T Favell)

Ad ournment DebateThe future of the special support units atCrayford School (Mr D Evennett)

MINISTERS - See Annex

2.

PRESS DICEST

CEIME STATISTICS

Rape and crime dominate today. - rape up 29% in Britain; 561 in London,but burglary down. But rape figures Possibly represent only one tenthof attacks (D/Star).

- Home Office considers changes to anonymity rule for alleged offences ancomplete protection of identity for victims.

- Police Federation comes out in favour of right of prosection appealagainst acquittal.

- D/Star says Britain is the in the middle of a rape epidemic.

- Mirror leads with "Bloody, brutal Britain" - Kaufman claims that sinceyou came to power crime has gone up 41%; violent crime 40;';burglaries 54%; and vandalism and criminal damage 760.

- Today says Home Secretary landed in a row when he denied that rape hadreached epidemic proportions.

Express P1: Shocking facts on soaring villainy, violence and rape inBritain today; leader says maybe there is something in a comparativelyaffluent society, long at peace, which produces its own mindlessbrutality but we must do as much as possible to protect the innocentwith more police on beat, draconian sentences, more efficientprosecution and above all wholehearted support for law enforcement.

- "Sail P1 says Douglas Hurd's plans to change the law on rape got a mixedreception from Tory MPs; leader on an "explosion of crime", saysmercifully there is some exaggeration aboutthe increase in rapes becauseof a wholly commendable improvement in the way police treat complaints.But the evil nonetheless needs to be stamped on with draconian vigour.You must square up to the widespread anxiety about crime generally.The great test of your will now is to change the nation's attitudeto crime.

- Telegraph P1 lead: Hurd horrified by 29% rise in rape.

Guardian P1 lead: Hurd ready for charge in law in rape cases. Reinforced London forclikely after rise in crime; leader says we should hold on to perspective. The 184-'rape cases in the entire country does not justify clam that rape is widespread.Government will get no help frcrn rape obsessed "leer Street tabloids but it needs tolearn lessons of success on _-,urRlary.

Times leads with "police record _9% Inc-ea ce i:, ra:-es". Your concern over rise inbarbaric rape offencos; -_ea :er ,,reLkes case for more neighbourliness and assistingpolice in work of detection.

3.

OTHER LAW A"TD ORDER

- Two charged with Ealing rape and aggravated burglary; another man andwoman on burglary charge only.

- Mother of 8-year old girl, alleged to have been raped by a top doctoragainst whom there is said to be insufficient evidence, to start priva-prosecution. Geoffrey Dickens MP supporting her after case taken upby Norman St John Stevas. Sun says it is paying her costs. Terry Dic:MP wants Sun to ;iublish man's name. Mirror, reporting "horrifying cas-of assault against young children" say a society which fails to protecthose who must need protection has no right to call itself civilised.When there is evidence of a child being sexually abused and the personresponsible is identified, he must be prosecuted.

- George Gale, in Express, says public interest requires a prosecutioneven if it is thought evidence may not yield conviction.

- Labour NIPs to defy new Home Office guidelines on handling of immigratelaws.

- Loophole found in gun law which allows Army rifles adapted with airgun mechanism to be bought over the counter.

NORTHER! IRELAND

- An extra 550 troops being sent to NI.

Evelyn Glenholmes, alleged terrorist, in Dublin court today. Judge widecide whether to allow bail - wants to know on what ground she is be-held.Guardian says Chief Constaole of RUC says responsibility for Ulster parades shouldbe removed from police an d given to special body to take pre ssure off RUC.

4.

MED I A feudal ism.Kinnock's attack on Rupert Murdoch attracts little coverage - accuses Murdoch of ;You pay tribute to 79 policemen injured at Wapping (Sun).

Sun commenting on Kinnock's speech about Wapping to print workers'rally last night, says that now Fulham by-election approaches he iseager to gain maximum publicity for Labour so he is prepared to liftthe ban on talking to Murdoch newspapers. "Well, we have news for theWelsh windbag", it says, "get lost. So spout to the valleys".

Rank fails in High Court to quash IBA's blocking of its bid for Granada

ECONOMY

- Sun says interest rates - and cost of mortgages - will fall with nextweek's Budget.

- Terence Beckett, of CBI, calls for a Budget of hope which shows thattop quarter of population cares for bottom quarter - time has come todo something tangible for unemployed.

- Express says in spite of record unemployment, one in seven manufactur::companies is likely to have its output cut by a lack of skilled work,-7r:-

- Telegraph say radical proposals to end the married man 's allowances an d introduceseparate taxation of husban ds an d wives will form a key part of next Tuesday's Bud, E-'

- FT: The recent euphoria in the finan cial markets and on expected cut in intere st ratahas mas ked a distinct increase that the City may not esca»e unscathed in the Cudgel.

INDUSTRY

- Jaguar's record profits of £121.3m last year - 33% increase in itsfirst full year of privatisation. Hands out £600 worth of shares toeach of its 10,000 workers as bonus.

- Japanese firms in Britain plan to create 7,000 new jobs by the end ofthe year.

- Nearly 3.5m believed to have taken part in No Smoking Day onWednesday.

- Today praises your "wise words" in remarking that the City is only ashealthy as its reputation. If the City does not heed them, theGovernment should beef up the fraud squad and put more legal teeth intcSecurities and Investment Board.

- Banking union urging its members to strike for more pay against Barcla:Lloyds and NatWest.

- Tam Dalyell MP to question Ministers on use of dirt y tricks against James ulliver(Argyll).

- Mail says rebe llion among NACODS members against leaders call for an overtime ban inpro test at closure of Bates colliery is growing. Peter Walker turns down union'sappro ach to discuss closure procedure.

- Andrew Alexander, in Mail, says international cart els like the tin agreement existto maintain artificially high prices.

- Telegraph says Laker lawyer offers to settle out of court to smooth way for B/Airwaysprivatisation.

Mick : Gahey rules out of order 3 motions in NU11 depriving Scargill of his job for liPT: A leading :retal trader, Philipp & Lion, headed by the Chairman of the L't1E, isquitting the exchan ge in the wake of the tin crisis. The LNE has non lost 4 of itsmembers.

FT: GRB Industrial Boilers, one .f Britain's biggest manufacturers of coal-firedboilers, has &one into receivership because of the effect on its orders of the falloil prices.

- Post Office extends its price freeze cn first an.. =eccnd class postage to July.

BL

- Little coverage in pops. Express has a feature on boss of GM who want,to buy Land-Rover and he says he is talking of making 10,000 more Land-Rovers immediately to sell world-wide.

Telegraph says S 1 executives have hinted to the Government that they might wind upBedford if their bid for BL does not succeed. Leader says if sale of Lan d-Rover to (-.A'proceeds the Government will be wantonly squandering political capital and publicgoodwill.

FT says Tory Party Whips have warned of a very strong view on the backbenches thatan outright sale to (21 is politically unacceptable and would lead to a major revolt:the EL Cabinet Committee now includes Lord Young and 1"ichnlas Ridley. One "participasaid that ministers were still loo:.ing for "a conclusion acceptable to support ers ofthe Government."

5a.

BL (CON-I'D)

- FT: GM's net loss in Europe increase ? sharply last year to £253m. TheGroup ended 1985 with borrowings and other liabilities in Europetotalling more than its assets.

GCRQ/CIVIL SERVICE

- Guardian says Government is expected to announce today that it hasdecided to separate GCHQ from Civil Service.

- FT: A sub-com.-ittee of the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committeeis believed to have decided that the Government should appoint anOmbudsman to give an independent line of appeal to civil servantsasked to carry out a duty with which they disagree.

6.

SELLAFIELD ETC

- Sun feature setting out cases for and against keeping open Sellafield.

- Pops give next to no coverage of Government report which says that nuclear waste canbe stored an d disposed of safely.

FT P1 lead: The Government is preparing to take speedy decisions on its nuclear powerprogranme, following the expected delivery in September of the Sizewell report. Fouror five stations based on the Sizewell design could be approved early next :ear.

Article by Malcolm Rutherford says despite apparent setbacks, the signs are that theGovernment intends to cane do^.m firmly on growth in nuclear generation.

- T imes notes st rarge silence of Teter _l, er nr ±.s•ue.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTsome

Labour plans to pay/councillors full time salaries of up to £15,000 ayear.

- Mail says Government has ordered the shut-down on Haringey's direct labour organisatiwhich has lost £5.5m over 4 years.

POLITICS

- Guardian Marplan poll interpreted as showing you are no longer an asset - but not aliability either.

PEOPLE

- Alfred Cullinane, man whose misfortune Brian Sedgemore raised inCommons, says DT had become a beneficiary in case which had cost him afortune.

- Telegraph leader says Sedgerore 's attack on DT and son goes too far. The onus on himis to pro vide proof rather than hide behind Parliamentary privilege.

- FT: :dat`'.est last nit stye rsousl_: denied Brian Sedgencre's allegations that it hadbeen involved in a land fraud.

- Keith Waterhouse to leave ',;irror in August . Jo =oley. :-;m-an ar:inr edhtor, also :--)C-S.

6a.

HOUSING

Telegraph says the home buying market is awash with money.

HEALTH/WELFARE

British Medical Journal attacks Government for holding an internationalconference on drugs next week which ignores smoking and drinking.

SPORT

Express says the drift away from soccer is turnin, into a landslide.League attendances have almost halved in 30 years.

7.

SWEDEN

- San arrested in connection with Palme assassination.

SPAIN

- Simon Weston, Welsh Guardsman badly burned in Falklands War, coshedby security guard when he tried to get into Tenerife disco - he sayslocals took a dislike to him when they realised he had been inFalklands.

- Sun says that in future all British poeple who have pride in their owncountry will go anywhere but Spain.

NATO

- Delighted at Spanish vote. Express says this leaves British LabourParty's Left in splendid isolation; they are a disgrace to YATO,Europe and Britain.

%il says how welcane it is that the ordinary people of Spain have now so decisivelyshown their desire to resume their full and rightful part in Europe.

- Telegraph: The best sort of surprise.

GIOTTO

- Telegraph: Euro-triumph on Ealley's Comet.

8.

PHILIPPINES

- Mail feature on a wander through Imeida Marcos' bunker .getting aglimpse of her life-style.

FRANCE

- Inflation down to 3.2.

EAST-WEST

- Reagan willing to switch Gorbachev Summit until after Congressionalelections in :November.

B=UM I LAM

AI:NEX

MINISTERS (UK VISITS SPEECHES ETC)

DEM: Lord Young addresses Kirklees Chamber of Commerce andIndustry, Huddersfield

DHSS: Mr Fowler visits National Council for Carers and theirelderly dependents, Birmingham

SO: Mr Rifkind gives Founder's Day speech, George Wacson'sCollege, Edinburgh; later meets representatives ofNational Federation of Self-Employed and SmallBusinesses, Edinburgh

DTI: Mr Channon visits Bolton

MAFF: Lord Belstead visits Van Heyningens Tomato Holdings, Kent

DEN: Mr Hunt visits British Steel Corporation, Corby

DOE: Lord Elton visits Tyne and Wear

DOE: Sir George Young addresses Housing Crime and SecurityConference, London

DHSS: Mr Newton speaks at Scottish Association of Directors of

Social Work annual conference, Rothsay

SO: Mr MacKay visits Grampian TV Studios, Grampian police HQand Grampian Fire Brigade, Aberdeen

SO: Mr Stewart attends Schools Debating Competition,Edinburgh

DTI: Mr Morrison opens Montgomery /Thomlinson new premises,Chester

WO: Mr Roberts visits Polytechnic of wales

WO: Mr Robinson opens sheltered accommodation, Cardiff

MINISTERS (OVERSEAS VISITS)

DTp: Mr Ridley and Lord Caithness attend EC Transport

Council, Brussels

DTI: Mr Pattie visits CEBIT Fair, Frankfurt, FRG

TV AND RADIO

"A Question of Economics "; Channel 4 (14.30): Debates the roi -zof 'The Market ' in the Britih economy

" Micro Live"; BBC 2 (19.00): Reports on a new micro-basedtraining aid for RAF air traffic controllers

"A Week in Politics :; Channel 4 (20.15)

'Any Questions "; BBC Radio 4 (20.45 ): With Viscount EtienneDavignon , Norman Lamont MP, the Rt Hon Tony Benn MP and SueSlipman